The Kelly’s Pub Molson Bulldogs outfielder’s stats speak for themselves, even if he flies under the radar as far as publicity and respect is concerned.
Given his dominance the past four years in the local senior men’s softball league, it was logical to assume Jon Kelly would have been added to the provincial representatives for the Canadian men’s fastpitch championship recently held in Owen Sound, Ont., which would have, undoubtably, raised his profile considering the elite level of the competition.
But that didn’t happen.
Why is the question, but are there really any specific answers?
To start with, there’s certainly nothing wrong with Kelly’s statistics. They are impeccable.
Kelly won a record second straight triple crown in the Molson St. John’s Senior Men’s Softball League this season, and his third in four years.
His .538 average this season tied the record for highest batting average in a season, which was set in 1994 by Jeff Kirk of Stanley’s Sports Pub.
Kelly’s triple crown this year also included 27 RBIs, while he tied Jason Hill of West Side Charlies Bud Light with seven home runs apiece.
All of the stats were personal bests for Kelly.
Kelly said while he’s more concerned with his team’s success than personal stats, he concedes winning back-to-back triple crowns is, “pretty cool.”
The 6-3 29-year-old from Holyrood picked up the game around 12 or 13 years of age and says, as far as he can recall, he’s always been able to hit.
“Ha, I guess it was just natural,” he says with a chuckle.
Of all his hitting stats, Kelly says his RBIs, “are probably the most important part for me.”
Driving in runs, he says, contributes to a winning team and, “that’s the only thing I care about.”
So why, in the face of the impressive stats, was Kelly not picked up by West Side Charlies Bud Light to represent the province in the nationals? Click here to continue reading.